THE HUNGER-STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1748, 13 May 1913, Page 6

THE HUNGER-STRIKE.

9 HISS SYLVIA PANKIIURSTS NARRATIVE. London, March 2G. Miss Sylvia Punkhurst lias issued a long statement describing her experiences of forcible feeding in Hollowny Gaol. Sbo arrived on Tuesday, February 18, and was placed in the hospital. She began n hunger-strike at oiice. On tho Friday sho was informed by the 'doctors that, they had 110 alternative but to feed her by force. "Six of the women officers entered. I struggled as hard as I could, but before long they had got me on tho bed, holding me. by the ankles, knees, and shoulders. After this the doctors came stealing in. They hadn't the courage to show themselves until I was securely held. I set my teeth like a vice. I felt a man's hand trying to force my mouth open., "I felt his finger and a steel instrument trying to find a gap between my teeth. Then L heard him say: 'There is a gap here, n long gap. I think this is tho iiest.' I think there were two of them holding my head. "Presently I felt a steel instrument being forced against my gums, where I had had two teeth out. I fought against it with all my strength, but, cutting its way into the flesh, it worked its wav in, and then they turned a screw which gradually forced my jaws apart. "They'then started to force the tubo down my throat. 1 tightened the muscles and struggled with all my might. I was to much agitated to know if tho tubo went all the way down into my stomach. I was scarcely conscious, excent that I was fighting." This happened, savs Hiss Pnnkhnrst., day after hay. "T felt that 1 could not endure forcible feeding any more. I walked rapidly up and down my cell, ; nerfapx for an hour and n h.ilf. Then I began to feel very faint. Everything went dark. I must have cried out, becauso one of (he officers of the hospital came to me to help me to gc-t to bed. All the wardresses were very kind and T felt fnrry that they should have to perform theso odious duties.

How, She Saw Herself. "Next day' everybody told me that my eyes were bloodshot. T had no class in ni> celt, but. by a little contrivance I <vas able to sec myself in the reflector behind, the ?a«. T was horrified (o see my face as whi(e as a sheet mid my eyes looking like cups of blood. "I started at 7 a.m. to walk up and down my cell until the doctors came in and fed liio.' Afterwards I went on ai'ain, flinging myself across and across from wall to wall. T walked on (hrougll tho night, growing weak that 1 only tottered ncro-s Uio cell. Tn the mornine I asked to sec the governor and the doctor together, at.d 1 sat down in order to ba able to talk to Iheni, having walked for twentv-eight hours that t might nuiot ii'velf." As (lie result of this' interview Hiss I'ankhnrsl; consented to take a cup oMiquid fond moraine and evening pondintr au application lo the Homo Office. As the (lavs nassed she thought: she had been tricked, and on Thursday morning she resumed the hunger-strike, but site wa» not again fed forcibly and was released ou Hie following (lav, Good I'ridav.— "Daily Hail."

Middlesex County Council propose to rescind the regulation forbidding dogs to be carried on tramcars. Passengers carrying small now ride ou flinlor'liuses, and (ho result is « )0.-s of revenue to the wira.